The Magazine of Dubai Women's College Volume 16 Issue 2, May ...

establishments and emissions from mobile
sources which are motorbikes and cars. They
are main sources of air pollution in any city.”
There are some strategies followed by Dubai
Municipality to reduce air pollution. One of
them is the air quality monitoring system.
There are six monitoring sites measuring
the criteria of air pollution and this includes
measuring the percentage of the sulphur dioxide,
carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide in the
air, he explains.
The rapid growth of the city, trade and industry
constitute an air pollution risk. However, the
level of air pollution is generally low except
in some instances where the level of ozone
is high especially in summer time. Suspended
particulate (mostly dust of natural origin) is
high during strong winds and sandstorms and
sulphur dioxide is high in the immediate
vicinity of major industrial sources and power
stations. According to a report recently published
by Dubai Municipality, “The Dubai air quality
management system includes air monitoring
activities, assessment of the new industrial
projects and the control and enforcement
of regulations with existing industries. Special
projects and guidelines are prepared to deal
with new industries or activities,” “A total
of 212,867 vehicles were registered, including
170,951 light vehicles, 5,256 buses, 16,304
light trucks, 8,287 heavy trucks, 312 heavy
mechanical vehicles and 3,498 motorcycles,
a report by Dubai Statistics Department says.
The huge number of vehicles registered in
Dubai every year is adding to the problem.
Asthmatic people feel that the air is not
as clear as it was few years ago. Dubai’s
environment is changing and consequently
cases of asthma are on rise. Samia Ibrahim,
a Dubai resident and a mother, says she is
asthmatic. About her health condition and
how the quality of air affects her asthma, she
says, “I have asthma and I always have to take
my medicine. Asthmatic people are very sensitive
to the environmental changes; we must avoid
dust and smoke.” Dr. Tarek believes that the
people here need to change their culture and
their way of living, because most of people
who are living here prefer to stay indoors.
Also they have to regularly change carpets
and curtains because they collect dust. People
need to open the windows to get fresh the
air. In addition in summer people can’t live
without air conditioners (ACs), but at least
the ACs’ filters should be changed and
cleared regularly.
Dr. Tarek advises his patients to avoid
the factors that cause their allergy. He
also advises them to have a healthy life
style “to eat fresh food, vegetables and fruit
and regularly exercise.”
“Green areas work like a lung
for the city as they provide
us with oxygen,” says Dr. Tarek
Eissa, an ENT surgery specialist
based in Dubai.